Event
Award ceremony of the UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes 2023
The UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes was created in 1995 to reward outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world’s cultural landscapes. The Prize, generously supported by the Government of Greece, bears the name of Melina Mercouri, former Minister of Culture of Greece and a strong advocate of integrated conservation.
The US$30,000 Prize will be awarded to a Laureate during an Award Ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters as a side event during the 42nd session of the General Conference.
What are cultural landscapes and why are they important?
Cultural landscapes are combined works of nature and people and embody a long-lasting, profound and intimate relationship between local communities and their natural environment. Whether in urban or rural settings, they are all the fruits of diverse interactions between people and nature, and thus serve as a living testimony to the evolution of societies in relation to their habitat.
They can provide various resources and services to the communities to which they are connected. This concretely enhances people’s well-being and livelihoods and contributes to improved food security, access to clean water, basic raw materials, medicinal plants as well as employment opportunities. Cultural landscapes are also an asset for safeguarding and enhancing cultural diversity.
Previous Laureates
2021
- Public Institute of Kozjansko Park in Podsreda (Slovenia)
2019
- Cultural Heritage Institute - Natural Park of Covam Paul & Ribeira de Torre (Cabo Verde)
2011
- Museum-Reservation of Garni (Armenia)
- Battir Cultural Landscape (Palestine)
2007
- Borodino Battlefield (Russian Federation)
2005
- The historic village of Maymand (Islamic Republic of Iran)
2003
- Park of Koga (Japan)
2001
- Lygra Heathland Centre (Norway)
- Murjadjo Djebel, Planters' Wood and Old Town of Sid Hourari (Algeria)
1999
- The Open-Air Art Museum at Pedvale (Latvia)
- Valle de Viñales (Cuba)
- Elishia's Park, Jericho (Palestine)
Registration
For in-person registration, kindly RSVP here:
The event is open to the public according to availability of seats.
Identification will be requested at the entrance - 125 avenue de Suffren, 75007 Paris, France
